Aechmea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae (subfamily Bromelioideae). The name comes from the Greek aichme, meaning "spear". Suggested pronunciations include and . Aechmea comprises eight subgenera and around 250 species distributed from Mexico through South America and the Caribbean. Most of the species in this genus are epiphytes. Subgenera Subgenera include: Aechmea subg. Aechmea Baker Aechmea subg. Chevaliera (Gaudichaud ex Beer) Baker Aechmea subg. Lamprococcus (Beer) Baker Aechmea subg. Macrochordion (De Vriese) Baker Aechmea subg. Ortgiesia (Regel) Mez Aechmea subg. Platyaechmea (Baker) Baker Aechmea subg. Podaechmea Mez Aechmea subg. Pothuava (Baker) Baker Aechmea subg. Streptocalyx ined. Species , Plants of the World Online listed the following species: Transferred Aechmea bicolor → Wittmackia bicolor Aechmea burle-marxii → Wittmackia burle-marxii Aechmea depressa → Karawata depressa Aechmea gustavoi → Karawata gustavoi Aechmea hostilis → Karawata hostilis (E.Pereira) J.R.Maciel & G.M.Sousa Aechmea involucrata → Ronnbergia involucrata Aechmea multiflora → Karawata multiflora Aechmea nigribracteata → Karawata nigribracteata Aechmea prasinata → Karawata prasinata Aechmea saxicola → Karawata saxicola Aechmea tonduzii → Ronnbergia tonduzii Aechmea turbinocalyx → Wittmackia turbinocalyx Aechmea veitchii → Ronnbergia veitchii Cultivars Cultivars include: Aechmea 'Blue Tango' Aechmea 'Burgundy' Aechmea 'Fire' Aechmea 'Gympie Gold' Aechmea 'Jeanie' Aechmea 'Malva' References Bromeliaceae genera Taxa named by José Antonio Pavón Jiménez